Mexico Easter 2011 Travel Warnings

The U.S. State Department on Friday broadened its travel warning on Mexico to include parts of five additional states, including a highway where suspected drug gangs shot two U.S. customs officials in February.

The warning advises U.S. government personnel and American citizens to defer nonessential travel in certain parts of Jalisco, Nayarit, San Luis Potosi, Sonora and Zacatecas.

It outright bans U.S. employees from traveling to Colotlan and Yahualica, two cities in the central-west state of Jalisco near the Zacatecas border due to increasing drug gang violence.

"Concerns include roadblocks placed by individuals posing as police or military personnel and recent gun battles between rival transnational criminal organizations involving automatic weapons," the State Department warning said.

The restrictions were added to a previous warning against travel throughout the states of Tamaulipas and Michoacan and to parts of the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango and Sinaloa.

Gunmen shot dead an unarmed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent and wounded another on February 15 on a highway in San Luis Potosi in a daylight attack that outraged U.S. officials and put a strain on join U.S.-Mexican efforts to battle drug cartels.

The State Department advised against travel on that road, Highway 57D, a major north south route toward Monterrey, Mexico's commercial capital.

The latest warning also provides more specific information on travel in northern Mexico where drug gang wars have been most violent, naming cities and towns that require particular caution. For example, it says U.S. government officials are required to travel only in armored vehicles and in daylight hours in Sinaloa parts of the city of Nogales.

The warning can be seen at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5440.html

More than 36,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since President Felipe Calderon launched a military-led crackdown on drug gangs in 2006. Mexico last month revealed that it is allowing unmanned U.S. drone aircraft into its airspace to hunt for drug traffickers.

Mexico Cooked poultry and Eggs

Regulations prohibiting certain foods from entering the United States have changed to include cooked poultry and eggs from Mexico because of a contagious bird disease.

Those attempting to enter the U.S. with these cooked products, in a lunch or for delivery, will be refused entry or the poultry and eggs will be seized. Uncooked poultry and eggs were already on the prohibited list at the Ports of Entry.

The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service implemented these new requirements this week on those traveling from countries where Exotic Newcastle Disease exists, including Mexico.

The requirements provide for passage of poultry that is accompanied by a government certification proving the meat was satisfactorily cooked or a USDA Veterinary Services import permit. Cooked eggs can also enter the U.S. if they are accompanied by a Veterinary Services import permit, unless the eggs are from Sinaloa or Sonora.

Exposure to birds infected by Exotic Newcastle Disease can cause mild influenza-like symptoms.

Mexican Border Crossing with Easter Items

Kinder Eggs considered contraband at borders

By Elizabeth Aguilera Originally published April 21, 2011 at 3:34 p.m., updated April 21, 2011 at 3:37 p.m.

Travelers must leave Kinder Eggs behind when they return to the United States from other countries despite the treat's Easter popularity, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The tasty Easter eggs are prohibited because of the tiny toys inside, considered unsafe by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Travelers who attempt to smuggle Kinder Eggs into the U.S. could face up to $300 in fines. Last year, Customs and Border Protection seized nearly 25,000 Kinder Eggs at Ports of Entry. Most of the Eggs were found in personal baggage, mail and express consignment facilities.